October was a bad month for industry. Britain's 0.8% drop in overall industrial production was bad enough, including as it did a 1.3% drop in manufacturing outout, though it was not as dire as Germany's 2.6% slump.

The UK figures have already got analysts on triple dip alert, despite an encouraging rise in third quarter construction orders, also announced today. The arithmetic for industrial production is pretty horrible - in October it was 2.4% below the third quarter average.

It will need something special, such as a rebound in food production (down 3% month-on-month in October) and a turnaround in North Sea production, assuming some of the slump is shutdown related. In October mining and quarrying, most of which is the North Sea, was 15% below its third quarter average and 21% down on a year earlier. Not so much a decline as a collapse. More here.

All the economics you need. Welcome to EconomicsUK, the personal website of David Smith, Economics Editor of The Sunday Times, London.

The site, independent of the newspaper, aims to provide knowledge and stimulate debate on economics, for business people, students,economists and others. As well as my own articles and observations, it also includes material by other people and organisations, which is always welcome. Enjoy the site, and please take part in our forum.